3 family members arrested in fight at fair

August 09, 2008

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - An argument over the price of a Ferris wheel ticket Thursday at the Berkeley County Youth Fair led to a scuffle involving three members of a Martinsburg-area family and Berkeley County Sheriff's Department deputies, police said Friday.

Troy Marion Feltner, 34, of 1356 Rock Cliff Drive, was charged with three counts of obstructing an officer and counts of battery of an officer, disorderly conduct and public intoxication, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records.

Feltner's father, Ned Marion Feltner, 60, of 17 Pisces Place, was charged with two counts of obstruction, and counts of battery of an officer, disorderly conduct and destruction of property, records show.

Magistrate Joan V. Bragg arraigned all three Friday, and they were released from custody after posting bail, according to court records.

Berkeley County Sheriff W. Randy Smith said two deputies received sprains, scratches and cuts while detaining the Feltners, beginning with Troy Feltner.

Police were asked to respond to the Ferris wheel at 9:28 p.m., where Troy Feltner appeared to be intoxicated and was yelling and "trying to get at" a volunteer with the Berkeley County sheriff's reserve unit, according to a complaint filed by Sheriff's Department Deputy C.S. Welcome.

When Feltner did not stop yelling, Welcome said he was asked to leave the fairgrounds, but he didn't. When Welcome and another deputy began escorting Feltner from the property, a struggle ensued and attempts to handcuff Feltner led to the use of a Taser to detain him.

When Feltner was being put in a cruiser, his father ran toward another deputy and began fighting with him, Welcome said.

Ned Feltner had the deputy in a headlock and struck him in the left eye when Welcome said he intervened and put Ned Feltner on the ground. Feltner also was tased as he resisted arrest and destroyed several items on Welcome's uniform, the deputy said in his complaint.

Feltner's wife was charged after she attempted to strike at least one deputy with a bottle, but another deputy stopped her by grabbing her hand, Welcome said. She allegedly was screaming at Welcome and refused to step away as Troy Feltner was being arrested, the deputy said in his complaint.